Dream it. Do it. program kicks off

  • Posted: Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 11:27 am

Annual competition increases student awareness of manufacturing careers

Students from Robertsville Middle School get a jump on their project to the representative from Clayton Homes of Appalachia.
Students from Robertsville Middle School get a jump on their project to the representative from Clayton Homes of Appalachia.

Oak Ridge, Tenn.— From headlights and boat accessories to precision components and national security applications, careers in manufacturing are exciting and widely available. To inform middle school students of these opportunities, the Anderson County Chamber, Anderson County Schools, and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) kicked off the annual Dream It. Do it. East Tennessee competition on Oct. 25 at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Anderson County Higher Education Center.

The competition pairs area industries with middle schools to enable students to learn more about careers in manufacturing. CNS, the managing and operating contractor for the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, has helped facilitate and sponsor the competition for seven years.

Local industries are vital

“We are grateful for our industry partners that make this competition possible,” said Anderson County Chamber President Rick Meredith. “There is no better way for students to learn about careers than from the adults in the industry. We appreciate CNS for helping us with this initiative that allows middle school students to explore careers in advanced manufacturing.”

“There are many opportunities in manufacturing at Y-12 and across the area,” said Kristin Waldschlager, education outreach specialist for Y-12. “This program is just one of many ways we are working to develop the future workforce.”

Industry-school pairings announced

This competition pairs area industries with participating middle schools. At the kickoff, the following industry-school pairs were announced:

  • Aisin Automotive Casting Tennessee and Jefferson Middle School
  • Eagle Bend Manufacturing and Clinton Middle School
  • Clayton Homes of Appalachia and Robertsville Middle School
  • Protomet Corporation and Norris Middle School
  • SL TN and Lake City Middle School
  • Techmer PM and Norwood Middle School

The student teams will learn about their industry partner and produce a short video which explains “What’s So Cool about Manufacturing.” The winning entries will receive money to fund science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities at their schools. In April, members of the public will be able to vote for their favorite video to determine the Peoples’ Choice Awards.

Clinton Middle School’s team meets with the representative from Eagle Bend Manufacturing to start planning their project.

Clinton Middle School’s team meets with the representative from Eagle Bend Manufacturing to start planning their project

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Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects, and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 315.5996
Kathryn.King@pxy12.doe.gov

Follow Y-12 on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

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